Mounting for electrical switches



NOV. 4, 1930. V PHELAN 1,780,312

MOUNTING FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Filed July 19 1925 VJW Patented Nov. 4,1930 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE:

Louis A. M. PHELA or BELOIT, wIsooNsIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,To TIME-O-STAT CONTROLS coMrANY, or E KHART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OFMARYLAND MOUN ING FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Application filed July 19,1923. Serial No. 652,540.

This invention relates to mountings for electrical switches and moreparticularly to devices for mounting liquid contactors such as arecommonly housed within a container made of glass or other fragilematerial.

More particularly, this invention embodies a two-part insulating andprotective housing for encasing a tiltably operated mercury switch of atype comprising a glass tube having a cooperating pair of spacedelectrodes and a movable body of mercury therein for bridging theelectrodes when the tube is tilted to a predetermined angle.

One object of my invention is to provide a 'ri 'id means for mounting amercury switch tu e upon any desired actuating member such for exampleas a control pedal of a motor vehicle or other machine. Moreparticularly, it is a purpose of this invention to provide such amounting means which will serve to protect the fragile tube frommechanical injury and at'the same time provide means for the readyattachment of the electrical connections thereto.

rate and rapid positioning in the housing of the tiltable switch and itselectrical connections while the switch is still exposed to the view,thus the possibility of cracking the tube or misplacing the connectionsduring the assembly operations is substantially minimized. Furthermore,such procedure enables the tube to be positioned in a definite relationin respect to the outside surfaces of the protective housing andaccordingly even when the tube is completely covered by the insulatedand protective housing, the lions ing may be accuratelymounted at anangle such that the switch will actuate-after an exact predetermined-change to its inclination.

Another aim of my'invention resides in the provision of a switchmounting of the character described which is susceptible of inexpensiveproduction in large quantities and which is durable and efficient in useand may be readily installed for use under a wide variety 0 conditions.

Further objects will become apparent upon reference to the followingdescription and the appended claims taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a capportion of the switch mounting embodying my invention;

. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main body portion of the switchmounting comprising my invention and showing sealed therein a tiltablemercury contactor tube;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View taken on a line such as indicated at3-3 in Fig. 2 and showing the switch mounting in? assembled condition;and i Fig. 4 illustrates the switch mounting applied to a control pedalof a motor vehicle in order to permit actuation of the switchsimultaneously with the control of the vehicle, and thus permitting theswitch to operate an electrical circuit, as for example a signalcircuit.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a hermetically sealed glass tube isindicated at 10 and may contain therein a movable body of conductingfluid, such as mercury 11 which is adapted to move upon the interiorsurface of the tube into and out of bridging relation with a pair ofelectrodes 12 and 13 which may be sealed through the glass walls of thetube and externally connected to any desired circuit which is to becontrolled by the switch device.

In order to fully protect the contactor tube 10 from mechanical injuryand in order to provide a durable and convenient means for supportingthis tube, a pair of cooperating insulated housing members 14 and 15 areprovided therefor. The members 14 and 15 may be respectively formed withcavities at 16 and 17 each of which serves to enclose approximately onehalf of the tube 10 which is preferably disposed longitudinally therein.

As appears in Fig. 2, I have provided the housing member 15 with a pairof screws or bolts 18 and 19 which may be fixed to the member 15 in anydesirable manner as by their extension through openings 20 and by beingprovided with nuts 21 for their securement within these openings. Thescrews 111?. preferably be sealed in place by c v ring th heads thereofwith a poured insulated compound as indicated at 22. From the electrodes12 and 13, a pair of lead wires 23 and 24 may extend to the screws18 and19 respectlvely and-may be retained thereat beneath nuts as at 21.Suitable openings at 25 and 26 may be provided inthe housing covermember 14 to be engaged by the screws 18 and 19, respectively. After thetube 10 is in place within the housing member 15, the cap member 14 maybe placed thereover and retained in position by means of nuts as at 27upon the screws 18 and 19.

- From the above it will be seen that the screws 18 and 19 serve oneimportant purpose by providing binding posts for attaching theelectrical leads to any desired external circuit, the terminals fromwhich, as at 28, may be fixed beneath the nuts 27. The screws 18 and 19also serve the further purpose of bringing the cooperating halves of thehousing into proper registration and of mechanically supporting orretaining these halves in their proper relation. It w1ll thus be seenthat the screws conveniently serve a double purpose, thus greatlyfacilitating the manufacture and assemblage of the device.

As evidenced by Fig. 2, the cap member 14 may be removed to enableinspection of the tube 10 or the connecting wires without in any waydisturbing these connections and without removing the tube from itsposition as lodged within the housing member 15. Accordingly, the tubemay be sealed within the member 15 if desired by the use of pitch orother adhesive insulating compound, as

indicated at 29. In this manner the structure insofar as shown in Fig. 2may. be substantially permanently assembled as a unitary whole beforethe tube 10 and the connections thereto become concealed by applying thecap member 14. The rapid and correct assembly of the device is thusassured. Furthermore, the tube may be adjusted and fixed in' its properhorizontal position while still in full view.

If the tube is .thus accurately placed in a horizontal position parallelwith the longitudinal exterior surfaces of the member 1.5, thesesurfaces will-serve as guides for accurately mounting the device evenafter the tube itself is concealed within the members 14 and 15.

The members 14 and. 15, if desired. may be provided with communicatingopenings 30 and 31 permitting for the insertion of a mounting screw 32,as shown in Fig. 4.

The screw32 -may serve to attach the switch device to any desiredactuating means, such as a vehicle control lever 33 move into and out ofbridging relation with the switch electrodes, thereby actuating any.

desired form of signal or other mechanism which may be placed in circuitwith the switch.

While I have shown and described one.

'ters Patent in the United States, is:

1. A switch device comprising a tiltably operated liquid contactor tube,a housing thereforformed of two cooperating portions of insulatingmaterial for enveloping said tube, means fixed to one of said portionsfor removably attaching the other portion thereto, said means serving aselectrical terminals for the electrodes of said tube, and means forfixing the tube rigidly in one of the portions of said housing.

2. A switch device comprising a contactor tube, an insulating housingmember therefor formedwith a cavity, means for fixedly securing saidcontactor tube in said cavity, a removable cap member for covering theface of said housing member and said cavity, and binding screws fixed-insaid housing member and electrically connected to the'electrodcs of saidcontactor tube and extending through said cap member for removablyretaining said cap member in contact with said housin member.

3. In com ination with a pivotally mounted brake pedal, of a switchdevice attached thereto whereby the circuit through said switch isopened and closed byactuating said brake pedal, said switch comprising afragile container that houses the stationary I e LOUIS A. M. PHELAN.

which is here shown merely as one useful application of the device.mounting may be so adjusted in reference to the control lever that uponthe operation of the lever, the body of mercury 11 will The switch forreceiving said container, and

